Well apparatus



June 13, 1967 A. ECKERT ETAL 3,325,190

WELL APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1963 6 Sheets-$heet 1 4O o I 0 %i6 1 I 210 I 2,2 I I i 2'2 l 20 J I I INVENTORS LAWRENCE A. ECKERT JOHN R. YANGEY ATTORNEY June 13, 1967 1.. ECKERT ETAL WELL APPARATUS 6 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed July 15, 1963 INVENTORS LAWRENCE A. EGKERT JOHN R. YANGEY BY W (7 a 3 64 0 6 8 8 7m m amw 9 ATTORNEY June 13, 1967 C RT ETAL 3,325,190

WELL APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS LAWRENCE A. EGKERT JOHN R. YANGEY ATTORNEY June 1967 L. A. ECKERT ETAL 3,325,190

WELL APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS LAWRENCE A. ECKERT JOHN R. YANGEY ATTORNEY June 13, 1967 I... A. ECKERT ETAL WELL APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 15, 1963 IF I [3 T R 566 2 E 6%@ 5 M 5 mmn 1 M I 6 mm I mam VG. mm N 4 WH h I1 ll 956 20 0 zza z I im All: W chm, m u .1 6 H l o 5 4 0e 5 ssaw m 4 I l l 6 Q a w m w 1 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,325,190 WELL APPARATUS Lawrence A. Eckert and John R. Yancey, Houston, Tex.,

assignors to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 15, 1963, Ser. No. 294,844 14 Claims. (Cl. 285--18) The present invention pertains to a well apparatus and more particularly to a remotely controllable connector that can be releasably clamped in fluid-tight relation to a unit of an underwater Well apparatus.

In completing an underwater well, a conventional procedure is that of connecting the blowout preventers to a wellhead located on the ocean floor, thereafter disconnecting the blowout preventers from the wellhead, and finally connecting the Christmas tree to the wellhead in place of the preventers. As is recognized in the art, the blowout preventers must be connected to the wellhead in order to complete drilling and to run and set the outer casings and production tubing; then the preventers must be disconnected and replaced by the Christmas tree in order to control the flowing well fluid.

Since such connections are frequently made at considerable depths and since it is desired to minimize the time required to effect the connections, the connector must be operated by remote con-trol, usually at a control station at the surface of the water above the well. The use of remote control, however, demands dependability in both connection and disconnection. In addition to maximum fluid-tight integrity, the joint must resist both axial separating and laterally bending forces. For longer life, it is also desirable to minimize contact of the working parts and sealing surfaces by the surrounding salt water. Furthermore, the connector must be such that it can readily be detached from the wellhead under appropriate control; since all operations are effected remotely, precautions must be taken to assure release of the blowout preventers from the wellhead in order that the Christmas tree can be attached.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector that can be releasably clamped in fluid-tight relation to a unit of a well apparatus.

Another object is to provide a remotely controllable connector for underwater wells.

Another object is to provide a connector that is depend. able in both its connecting and disconnecting actions.

Another object is to provide a connector that effects a metal-to-me-tal seal.

Another object is to provide a releasable connector that resists both axial separating and lateral bending forces.

Another object is to provide a remotely controllable, releasable connector that employs a primary metal-tometal seal and a secondary resiliently compressible seal, both of which are readily replaceable.

Another object is to provide a remotely controllable connector that can be released in several different ways.

Another object is to provide an underwater well connector in which contact by salt water with working parts and sealing surfaces of the connector is minimized.

These, together with other objects, will become apparent upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a well apparatus incorporating a connector embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and particularly illusrtating the subject connector just before it is coupled to a wellhead of the well apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, although partially in side elevation, and showing the connector and wellhead in interfit-ted relation before the connector is clamped to the wellhead.

FIGS. 4A and 4B, when placed end-to-end with the lower end of FIG. 4A next to the upper end of FIG. 4B, constitute an enlarged longitudinal section of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 and show the connector clamped to the wellhead.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged paratus shown in FIG. 413.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken on a plane at a position indicated by line 6-6 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an isometric of a portion of the connect-or of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, a well apparatus is generally identified by the numeral 15 and includes a lower well unit, such as a wellhead 16, an upper wellhead unit, such as a blowout preventer 18, and a connector 20 embodying the present invention. The connector is bolted to the blowout preventer and is releasably clamped to the wellhead. Although not shown, it is to be understood that the upper well unit could just as well be a Christmas tree and that the present connector could be used to join Well units other than those specifically mentioned herein.

The wellhead .16 (FIG. 2) is, of course, made of metal, and includes an upper tubular or female coupling member .25. This coupling member has an internal cylindrical surface 26, an upper internal frusto-conical sealing surface 27, an upper annular radial end face 29, an external surface 30, and an upwardly divergent frusto-conical external shoulder 32 axially spaced below the end face. A frustoconical closure plate 34 is secured to the external surface of the coupling member, in surrounding relation thereto, and provides a circular lower edge 35 that is radially outwardly spaced from the external surface of the coupling member. An O-ring 36 is mounted in the lower edge of the plate and faces outward therefrom. I

The connector 20 (FIG. 2) includes a coupling housing 40 having an annular outer wall 42, an annular inner wall 44, and an upper radial wall 46 interconnecting the inner and outer walls. It is to be noted that the outer wall is threaded at 47 to tthe radial wall, and that the outer and radial walls are precluded from relative rotation by weldments 48.

The outer wall 42 of the housing 40 has a cylindrical lower end portion 50 providing an inside diameter sub stantially equal to the outside diameter of the closure plate 34, a frusto-conical intermediate portion 52 converging upward from the lower end portion, and a cylindrical upper end portion 54 projecting up from the intermediate portion. This upper end portion has an internal surface 56 providing an annular groove 58 spaced between the threads 47 and the intermediate portion 52. Further, the outer wall has an upper port 60 therethrough immediately adjacent to the radial wall 46. The outer wall also has a lower port 62 extending therethrough and opening into the groove 58.

The inner wall (FIG. 2) of housing 40 provides a bore 66, an upper counterbore 68, an intermediate counterbore 70, a lower counterbore 72 of substantially the same diameter as the internal surface 26 of the wellheads coupling member 25, an annularlower shoulder 73, a lower annular radial end face 74 having substantially the same minimum diameter as the end face 29 of the Wellhead 16, an internal frusto-conical sealing surface 76 converging upward from the end face 76 and joining the lower counterbore, and an external surface 78 in circumferentially spaced relation to the internal surface 56 of the outer wall 42. It is to be noted that the frustoconical sealing surfaces 27 and 76 have the same length and the same maximum and minimum diameters and are hereinafter referred to as the lower and upper sealing fragmentary portion of the apsurfaces of the well head and the housing, respectively.

The subject connector also includes a rigid male coupling sleeve 84 (FIG. 2) having an upper mounting section 86 and a lower retaining section 88 threaded onto the mounting section. The mounting section has a cylindrical intermediate external surface 90 of substantially the same diameter as the internal surface 26 of the wellhead 16 and the lower counterbore 72; this external surface provides an annular groove 92. The mounting section also has an upper externally diametrically reduced portion 94 threaded into the intermediate counterbore 70, an upper annular shoulder 96 spaced below the lower shoulder 73 of the inner wall 44, a lower externally diametrically reduced portion 98 threaded into the retaining section, and an annular lower shoulder 100 spaced above the retaining section. The mounting and retaining sections are prevented from rotating relative to each other by a setscrew 102. Upper and lower resiliently compressible annular packings 106 and 108 surround the sleeve and are located respectively between the upper shoulder 73 and 96 and between the lower shoulder 100 and the retaining section 88.

A significant element of the present connector 20 is a metal seal ring 110 (FIG. 2) having an internal cylindrical surface 111 axially slidably fitted around the external surface 90 of the sleeve 84. The seal ring also has upper and lower counterbores 114 diametrically larger than the sleeve, upper and lower end portions 116 spaced outward from the external surface of the sleeve, and upper and lower outer frusto-conical sealing surfaces 118 and 120 diverging from said end portions to an intermediate juncture edge 122 located centrally of the ring. The sealing surfaces 118 and 120 include central portions 123 and minutely raised portions 124 adjacent to said end portions. In actual embodiments of the seal ring, the raised portions are approximately 0.010 inch high, as measured along a normal to their respective central portions.

A snap ring is removably received in the groove 92of the sleeve 84 and releasably retains the seal ring 110 on the sleeve. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the seal ring can slide down on the sleeve but no further than the snap ring. When the seal ring rests on the snap ring, the latter is received within the lower counterbore 114 with the lower end portion 116 of the seal ring surrounding the snap ring.'Thus, not only does the snap ring 130 hold the seal ring on the sleeve, but the seal ring limits expansion of the snap ring and retains the latter on the sleeve. The seal ring is readily removed by sliding it upward on the sleeve to enable the snap ring to be removed from the groove 92; thereafter, the snap ring can be slid off the lower portion 98 and retaining section 88 of the sleeve. In this manner, the seal ring can be removed and replaced without disturbing the connection of the sleeve to the housing 40. It is also to be noted that the seal ring can be placed on the sleeve either end first, since both ends of the sleeve ring are of identical construction.

A collar is threaded around the inner wall 44 of the housing 40 and provides an upper radial flange 136 circumferentially spaced from the outer wall 42 and a lower radial flange 138 diametrically smaller than the upper flange and thus also spaced from the outer wall 42. A set screw 140 is threaded into a bore partially in the inner wall and partially in the collar thereby to preclude relative rotation between the collar and the inner wall. An inner O-ring 142 is fitted in the upper flange in sealing engagement with the external surface 78 of the inner wall 44, and an outer O-ring 144 is fitted around the upper flange.

A plurality of arcuate dog support segments (FIGS. 2, 6 and 7) are mounted on and secured to the collar 135. Each segment (FIG. 7) includes an upper radial flange 152 fitted between the upper and lower flanges 136 and 138 of the collar (FIG. 2), an intermediate web 154 projecting down from the upper flange, and a lower ear 156 (FIG. 7) projecting down from the web below the lower flange 138 of the collar (FIG. 2). Weldments 158 secure the segments the collar. Substantially horizontal pivot pins 160 are mounted in and extend between adjacent lower ears (FIGS. 2 and 7). The pins are tangent to a common circle concentrically surrounding the sleeve 84 and are substantially horizontal when the axis of the housing 40 is upright.

Clamping dogs are individually pivotally mounted on the pins 160 between pairs of lower ears 156. Each dog has a semi-cylindrical upper surface 166, an outer planar surface 168, an inner surface 170, and an upper clamping ledge 172. The dogs are mounted for movement between clamping positions (FIGS. 4B and 5) wherein their clamping ledges are collectively in frustoconical formation concentric with the sleeve 84 and their outer surfaces 168 are collectively in cylindrical formation spaced inward from the internal surface 56 of the outer wall 42, and retracted positions (FIGS. 2 and 3) wherein their outer surfaces engage the intermediate portion 52 of the outer wall 42 and their ledges are spaced outward from the clamping positions. The frusto-conical formation of the ledges in said clamping positions is complementary to the shoulder 32 of the wellhead 16. The dogs are weighted so as to gravitate into their retracted positions when their pins are horizontal and when they hang freely therefrom.

The outer, inner and radial walls 42, 44 and 46 and the collar 135 defines an annular fluid chamber 180, and the connector 20 includes an annular main piston 182 having a head 184 reciprocably fitted in the chamber. The piston also has a skirt 186 projecting through the space between the upper flange 136 of the collar 135 and the outer wall 42 of the housing 40. The skirt has an inner cylindrical surface 188 in slidable fluid-tight engagement with the outer O-ring 144, an outer surface 190 partially in slidable engagement with the internal surface 56 of the outer wall 42 and providing an elongated annular channel 192, and radial ducts 194 extending from the upper end of the channel into the chamber below the piston head. An inner O-ring 196 is fitted in the piston head and is in slidable sealing engagement with the external surface 78 of the inner wall 44, and an outer O-ring 198 is fitted around the piston head above the channel 192 and is in slidable sealing engagement with the internal surface 56 of the outer wall 42. In addition, a lower O-ring 200 is fitted in the outer surface 190 of the skirt below the channel and is in slidable sealing engagement with the internal surface 56. Upon appropriate introduction and release of fluid pressure through the ports 60 and 62, the piston moves between an upper retracted position (FIGS. 2 and 3) with the skirt spaced above the retracted dogs 165 and with the lower port 62 communicating with the lower end of the channel 192 and a clamping position (FIG. 4B) with the skirt engaging the outer surfaces 168 of all of the dogs 165 and forcing the same into their clamping positions and with the lower port communicating with the upper end of the channel. Furthermore, with the piston in its clamping position, it retains the dogs in their clamping position since the skirt prevents the dogs from moving outward.

The subject connector 20 also includes secondary automatic release units 210 (FIGS. 1, 4A and 4B). Each secondary unit includes a cylinder 212 having a fitting 213 threaded into an opening in the radial wall 46, and a lower port 214 just above the fitting. A cap 216 is connected into the upper end of each cylinder, and a piston rod 218 is coaxially slidably extended through the cap and fitting. The rod has a lower end 220 slidably projecting through the fitting and the radial wall and threaded into the piston head 184. The piston rod also has an upper end 222 projecting above the cap. A retracting ring 224 is fitted in an annular groove in the piston rod below the cap, and an annular auxiliary piston 226 is slidably fitted Within the cylinder and slidably receives the piston rod. The auxiliary piston is provided with inner and outer O-rings 228 and 230 respectively in slidable fluid sealing engagement with the piston rod and cylinder. As the main piston 182 moves between its clamping and retracted positions, the piston rods 218 move down and up, respectively, through their individual auxiliary pistons 226. The auxiliary pistons are normally in lower retracted positions (FIG. 4A) at the lower ends of their cylinders but can be raised to upper releasing positions by admitting fluid under pressure into the ports 214. If the auxiliary pistons are raised when the piston rods are in their lower positions, they lift both the piston rods and the main piston because of engagement with the retracting rings.

Manual release eyelets 240 have fittings 242 individually threaded onto the upper ends 222 of the piston rods 218 and secured in place by setscrews 244. These eyelets are of a size sufficient to receive cables, as indicated in phantom lines by the numeral 246, these cables being threaded through the eyelets and connected thereto.

Additionally, the connector includes an adapter 250 having a lower end 252 threaded into the upper counterbore 68 of the inner wall 44 of the housing 40 and an upper flange 254 connected to the blowout preventer 18 or other upper well unit.

In describing the operation of the connector 20, it is assumed that the connector is used to attach a blowout preventer 18 to a Wellhead 16. After the Wellhead is set in position adjacent to the ocean floor, the blowout preventer is lowered toward the wellhead, with the subject connector attached to the lower end of the preventer (FIG. 2), and is guided in alignment with the wellhead by guide system 260 (FIG. 1). At this time, the main and auxiliary pistons 182 and 226 and the dogs 165 are in their retracted positions (FIG. 2). Fluid pressure applied through the lower port 62 holds the main piston retracted. Introduction and release of pressure to and from the ports 60 and 62 and introduction of pressure to the port 214 is effected by control equipment, not shown, but at a location remote from the connector, usually at the surface of the water above the well. Furthermore, it is again to be noted that as the connector descends, the seal ring 110 is held on the sleeve 84 by the snap ring 130 and vice versa, as explained above.

Continued downward movement causes the sleeve 84 (FIG. 3) to enter the coupling member and guide the connector 20 into a supported position with the end face 74 abutting the end face 29 and with the lower end portion 50 of the outer Wall 42 in surrounding wiping contact with the O-ring 36 in the closure plate 34. Of course, with the dogs 165 angled outward in their retracted positions, they readily pass over the external surface 30 and the shoulder 32 of the coupling member.

As the connector 20 closely approaches the supported position described in the preceding paragraph, the lower sealing surface 120 of the seal ring 110 engages the upper sealing surface 27 of the coupling member 25. The ring is thereby slid upward on the sleeve 84 and is wedged between the sleeve and the upper sealing surface 76 of the housing a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3 will reveal this movement of the seal ring. More specifically, the upper raised portion 124 of the seal ring is forced into intimate sealing engagement with the upper sealing surface 76. Also, the lower raised portion on the seal ring tightly engages the lower sealing surface 27. Thus, the seal ring is lifted off the snap ring 130 into a position of preliminary sealing engagement with the coupling and the housing; in this position, the seal ring bridges the abutting end faces 29 and 74, and the juncture edge 122 is substantially coplanar with the abutting faces.

Clamping connection is effected with the connector 20 by introducing fluid under pressure into the upper port 60 and allowing fluid to bleed from the lower port 62 (FIG. 4B). This fluid pressure forces the main piston 182 into its clamping position and thus the dogs 165 into 6 their clamping positions. In the clamping positions of the dogs, the ledges 172 engage the shoulder 32 on the coupling member 25 and apply inward and upward constricting force F1 (FIG. 5) circumferentially on the coupling member. The coupling member is thus squeezed about the seal ring and forces the lower sealing surface 27 into final intimate sealing engagement with the lower raised portion 124 on the seal ring, as indicated by force F2. Furthermore, this constricting force tightly urges the end face 29 on the coupling member against the end face 74 on the coupling housing 40, as indicated by the force F3. The clamping pressure exerted by the dogs deforms the metal seal ring slightly, but since the ring is somewhat resilient, the deformation is not permanent.

Accordingly, a very effective fluid-tight connection is made with the wellhead 16. Most important is the metalto-metal circumferential seals that are effected between the seal ring 110 and the housing 40 and between the seal ring and the wellhead. These metal-to-metal seals are greatly enhanced by concentrating the sealing pressures against the raised portions 124. In addition, the metal-tometal seals are backed-up by the resiliently compressible seals established by the packings 106 and 108.

It is to be again noted (FIG. 2) that the seal ring 110 and the packings 186 and 108 are carried by the sleeve 84 and are, therefore, easy to inspect and replace, if necessary, simply by unthreading the sleeve from the housing 40 and thereafter removing the retaining section 188 and the snap ring 130. The seal ring 110 can even be removed without unthreading the sleeve from the housing, as is believed understood.

Furthermore, the connector 20, when clamped as above described, provides a strong and rigid joint with the wellhead 16. With the dogs held in their clamping positions by the projected main piston 182, the connector and wellhead are effectively prevented from axial separation. The joint resists lateral bending forces because the mating end faces are clamped tightly together, and because the sleeve 84, bridging as it does the housing 40 and the wellhead, absorbs vibration and side stresses.

Still further, the O-ring 36 (FIG. 4B), between the closure plate 34 and the housing 40, precludes free flow of salt water around the dogs 165, their pins 160, the skirt 186, the shoulder 32, and adjacent structure. Although some salt water may be trapped above the closure plate as the housing descends therearound, the O-ring 36 allows some of this entrapped water to leak out. The important point to note here, however, is that by preventing free flow of salt water around the working parts, certain undesired marine growth is avoided. The limited amount of entrapped quiescent water does not damage the apparatus.

When it is desired to release the connector 20 from the wellhead 16, fluid under pressure is admitted to the lower port 62 and released from the upper port 60. When the main piston 182 is in its retracted position, the dogs are allowed to return to their retracted positions by gravity. Even if the dogs do not gravitationally return to retracted positions, the connector can be lifted off the wellhead whereby the dogs are forced into their retracted positions.

In the event that the fluid systems associated with the main and auxiliary pistons 182 and 226 fail to operate, so that neither the main piston nor the auxiliary pistons can be raised by fluid pressure as above described, cables 246 connected to the eyelets 240 are drawn upward thereby lifting the piston rods 218 and thus the main piston. Therefore, three different ways are provided for effecting release of the connector 20 from the wellhead 16, thereby assuring dependability of operation.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the subject remotely controllable connector effects a dependable metal-to-metal seal backed up by resiliently compressible seals, establishes a strong and rigid joint between the connected units minimizes salt Water intrusion, and provides several ways for effecting disconnection.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed to be new and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a well apparatus including an annular female coupling, a connector comprising a rigid tubular male member releasably slidably fitted into said coupling, a wall connected to and surrounding said male member and endwardly abutting said coupling, a seal ring encircling said male member and bridging the joint between and engaging said coupling and said male member, said ring being held in sealing engagement with said wall by said coupling, a plurality of dogs, means mounting said dogs on said wall in circumferentially spaced relation about said coupling for movement between clamping positions bearings against coupling and forcing it into tight sealing contact with said ring and tight clamping abutment with said wall, and retracted positions spaced outward from said coupling, and means for moving said dogs into their clamping positions and releasably maintaining them in said clamping positions, said male member absorbing vibration and side stresses to which the apparatus is subjected.

2. A connector for underwater well apparatus comprising a tubular coupling member, a wall surrounding and connected to said coupling member, said wall being in circumferentially spaced relation to said coupling member and providing a frusto-conical sealing surface confronting said coupling member, said coupling member having an end portion projecting away from said wall, said surface diverging in the general direction of projections of said end portion, a seal ring encircling said coupling member, said ring having a first frusto-conical sealing surface between said coupling member and said wall and confronting said sealing surface of the wall for sealing contact therewith, said ring having a second annular sealing surface projecting away from said wall, a plurality of dogs, means mounting said dogs on said wall in circumferentially spaced relation about said coupling member for movement transversely of said coupling member toward and away from said second sealing surface, and means for collectively moving said dogs toward said second sealing surface.

3. The connector of claim 2 wherein said sealing surfaces of said ring provide annular raised portions, the raised portion of said first sealing surface confronting the sealing surface of said wall.

4. The connector of claim 2 wherein said dogs are mounted by said mounting means for pivotable movement about substantially horizontal axes when the axis of the coupling member is upright, said dogs being weighted to hang by gravity in retracted positions spaced a predetermined radial distance from said coupling member.

5. The connector of claim 2 wherein said moving means is an annular piston mounted around said wall for movement axially of said coupling member into engagement with said dogs for moving the same toward said second sealing surface.

6. The connector of claim 2 wherein said seal ring is slidable lengthwise of said coupling member, and wherein a retaining ring is releasably mounted around said coupling member in spaced relation to said wall, and seal ring being between said retaining ring and said wall and releasably retained on the coupling member by said retaining ring.

7. The connector of claim 2 wherein said dogs have clamping positions relatively adjacent to said second sealing surface and retracted positions spaced further away from said second sealing surface than when in their clamping positions, wherein said moving means includes an annular main piston surrounding said wall and movable axially of said coupling member between a clamping position engaging said dogs and moving the s ame into their clamping positions and a retracted position displaced from said dogs for allowing said dogs to move into their retracted positions, said moving means also including an auxiliary piston and means for connecting said auxiliary piston to said main piston in the clamping position of said main piston whereby said auxiliary piston is effective to move said main piston into its retracted position.

8. The connector of claim 2 wherein said moving means is an annular skirt surrounding said wall and movable axially of said coupling member into engagement with said dogs while moving the same toward said second sealing surface, wherein a rod is connected to said skirt, and wherein an eyelet is connected to said rod, said eyelet constituting means for moving said skirt axially of said coupling member.

9. A remotely controllable connection adapted for attachment to a tubular coupling member of an underwater well apparatus comprising an inner cylindrical wall having a lower annular abutment face and a frusto-conical upper sealing surface converging upward from said abutment face toward the axis of said inner cylindrical wall, a coupling sleeve connected within said wall and project'- ing outward therefrom in circumferentially spaced relation to said upper sealing surface, said sleeve projecting into said coupling member, said coupling member having an upper annular abutment face confronting the abutment face of said wall and a frusto-conical lower sealing surface converging downward from said upper abutment face toward the axis of the coupling member in circumferentially spaced relation to said sleeve, a metal seal ring surounding said sleeve, said ring having upper and lower frusto-conical sealing surfaces respectively in fluid-tight engagement with said upper and lower sealing surfaces of said wall and coupling member, a plurality of dogs, means mounting said dogs on said wall in circumferentially spaced relation around said coupling member and for movement transversely of said coupling member between clamping positions engaging said coupling member and forcing the lower sealing surface thereof into intimate sealing engagement with the lower sealing surface of said ring and retracted positions spaced outward from said coupling member, wall means connected to said inner wall and providing an annular chamber therearo-und, and an annular piston reciprocably mounted in said chamber and including a skirt projecting toward said dogs, said piston being movable between a clamping position with said skirt engaging said dogs and moving the same into their clamping positions, and a retracted position with said skirt spaced from said dogs to allow the same to move into their retracted positions.

10. The connector of claim 9 wherein engagement of said lower sealing surfaces forces said upper sealing surfaces into intimate fluid-tight engagement.

11. The connector of claim 9 wherein said dogs are mounted for pivotable movement on axes that are substantially horizontal when said inner wall is upright, wherein said coupling member has an external upwardly divergent frusto-conical shoulder, and wherein said dogs have ledges that engage said shoulder in said clamping positions.

12. In a well apparatus including a tubular coupling member having an upper end abutment face and a lower internal frusto-conical sealing surface projecting convergently downward from said end face toward the axis of the coupling member, and an annular closure plate mounted on and surrounding said coupling member; a connector comprising a housing having an outer substantially cylindrical wall surrounding said closure plate and being in sealing engagement with said plate, an inner cylindrical wall having a lower abutment face confronting said upper abutment face and having an upper internal frusto-conical sealing surface projecting convergently upward from said upper abutment face toward the axis of the inner cylindrical wall, a sleeve secured in said inner wall and projecting into said coupling member, a seal ring surrounding said sleeve and having frusto-conical sealing surfaces in sealing engagement with said upper and lower sealing surfaces, and means mounted in said housing for constricting said coupling member about said seal ring.

12. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein there are upper and lower annular packings between the sleeve and said inner wall and between the sleeve and said coupling member.

14. In combination with an upstanding wellhead having an annular coupling portion, said coupling portion providing a substantially radial end face, an internal frusto-conical sealing surface converging downward from said end face toward the axis of the coupling portion, and an external frusto-conical shoulder axially spaced from said end face; a connector comprising a housing including a tubular outer Wall surrounding said coupling portion and a tubular inner wall inwardly circumferentially spaced from said outer wall and having a substantially radial end face abutting said end face of the coupling portion and an internal frusto-conical sealing surface converging upward from said end face of the housing toward the axis of said inner wall, said sealing surfaces meeting at said end faces, said housing also including a radial wall interconnecting said inner and outer walls in axially spaced relation to said end faces, a sleeve including a mounting section having a first end portion extending into and connected to said inner wall and a second end portion releasably slidably fitted into said coupling portion, said sleeve also including a retainer section releasably connected to said second end portion, first and second annular packings encircling said first and second end portions and being in fluid-tight engagement with said sleeve and said inner wall and coupling portion respectively, said second packing being maintained on said mounting section by said retainer section, a metal seal ring encompassing said sleeve between its end portions, said ring having an internal cylindrical surface slidably engaging the sleeve and outer first and second frustoconical surfaces respectively confronting said sealing surfaces and converging from an intermediate juncture edge toward opposite ends of the ring, said edge being coplanar With said abutting end faces, said outer surfaces of the ring having raised portions adjacent to the ends of the ring in sealing engagement with said sealing surfaces, a collar connected to and encircling said inner wall in axially spaced relation to said radial wall and in circumferentially spaced relation to said outer wall, said collar and walls providing an annular chamber therebetween, a plurality of dogs, means mounting said dogs on said collar for pivotable movement on axes substantially tangent to a circle that concentrically surrounds said coupling portion, said dogs being pivotable between clamping positions engaging said shoulder and urging said sealing surface of the coupling portion into intimately tight sealing engagement with its associated raised portion of said ring and retracted positions spaced outward. from said shoulder and in alignment with the space between said collar and said outer wall, and an annular piston including a head reciprocably slidably received in said chamber and a skirt projecting through said space, said piston head being reciprocable between a clamping position wherein said skirt pivots said dogs into their clamping positions and retains them there and a retracted position allowing said dogs to return to their retracted positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 563,135 6/1896 Carruthers 285-371 X 1,186,812 6/1916 McFerran 285-341 2,181,343 11/1939 Reimschissel. 2,208,353 7/1940 Woolley 285-379 X 2,470,256 5/ 1949 McIlory 285-314 X 2,642,016 6/1953 Thalmann. 2,887,124 5/1959 Mehr. 2,962,096 11/1960 Knox. 3,028,179 4/1962 Abramoska 285-320 X 3,052,299 9/ 1962 Geer et al. 3,096,999 7/1963 Ahlstone 285-315 X 3,102,591 9/1963 Raulins. 3,128,009 4/ 1964 Norton. 3,134,613 5/1964 Regan 285- X 3,228,715 1/1966 Neilon et al. 285-313 CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner. THOMAS P. CALLAGHAN, Examiner. D. W. AROLA, S. R. MILLER, Assistant Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,325,190 June 13, 1967 Lawrence A. Eckert et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 41, for "tthe" read the line 65, for "76", second occurrence, read 74 column 7, line 22, after "against" insert said column 9, line 11, for the claim numbered "12." read l3.

Signed and sealed this llth day of March 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

1. IN A WELL APPARATUS INCLUDING AN ANNULAR FEMALE COUPLING, A CONNECTOR COMPRISING A RIGID TUBULAR MALE MEMBER RELEASABLY SLIDABLY FITTED INTO SAID COUPLING, A WALL CONNECTED TO AND SURROUNDING SAID MALE MEMBER AND ENDWARDLY ABUTTING SAID COUPLING, A SEAL RING ENCIRCLING SAID MALE MEMBER AND BRIDGING THE JOINT BETWEEN AND ENGAGING SAID COUPLING AND SAID MALE MEMBER, SAID RING BEING HELD IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID WALL BY SAID COUPLING, A PLURALITY OF DOGS, MEANS MOUNTING SAID DOGS ON SAID WALL IN CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED RELATION ABOUT SAID COUPLING FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN CLAMPING POSITIONS BEARINGS AGAINST COUPLING AND FORCING IT INTO TIGHT SEALING CONTACT WITH SAID RING AND TIGHT CLAMPING ABUTMENT WITH SAID WALL, AND RETRACTED POSITIONS SPACED OUTWARD FROM SAID COUPLING, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID DOGS INTO THEIR CLAMPING POSITIONS AND RELEASABLY MAINTAINING THEM IN SAID CLAMPING POSITIONS, SAID MALE MEMBER ABSORBING VIBRATION AND SIDE STRESSES TO WHICH THE APPARATUS IS SUBJECTED. 